Combine Spreader Arrangement Having Independently Positionable Spreader Disks

ABSTRACT

A spreader assembly for a combine harvester is disclosed, the assembly including a pair of disks configured to be rotated such that chaff material dropped onto the disks is spread about the combine harvester, wherein each disk is operably connected to its own motor and a spreader frame assembly. The spreader frame assembly includes a first side support pivotably connected to a frame of the combine harvester, a second side support pivotably connected to the frame of the combine harvester, and at least one disk support configured to support at least one of the pair of disks. The spreader frame assembly further defines an opening configured such that when the combine harvester is windrowing material, no portion of the spreader frame assembly interferes with the flow of windrowing material.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/545,404, entitled “COMBINE SPREADER ARRANGEMENT HAVING INDEPENDENTLYPOSITIONABLE SPREADER DISKS”, filed Jul. 10, 2012, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

TECHNOLOGY FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a spreader disk arrangementfor a combine harvester. More specifically, the present disclosurerelates to an improved spreader disk arrangement having independentlypositionable spreader disks.

BACKGROUND

A combine harvester, or a combine, is a machine that is used to harvestgrain crops. The objective is to complete several processes, whichtraditionally were distinct, in one pass of the machine over aparticular part of the field. Among the crops that may be harvested witha combine are wheat, oats, rye, barley, corn, soybeans, flax or linseed,and others. The waste (e.g., straw) discharged on the field includes theremaining dried stems and leaves of the crop which may be, for example,chopped and spread on the field as residue or windrowed and subsequentlybaled for feed and bedding for livestock.

A combine harvester cuts crop using a wide cutting header. The cut cropmay be picked up and fed into the threshing and separating mechanism ofthe combine, typically consisting of a rotating threshing rotor orcylinder to which grooved steel bars, commonly referred to as rasp barsor threshing elements, may be bolted. These rasp bars thresh and aid inseparating the grains from the chaff and straw through the action of thedrum against the concaves, i.e., shaped “half drum,” that may also befitted with steel bars and a meshed grill, through which grain, chaffand smaller debris may fall, whereas the straw, being too big or long,is carried through to the outlet. The chaff, straw, and other undesiredmaterial are returned to the field via a spreader mechanism.

In an axial flow combine, this threshing and separating system serves aprimary separation function. The harvested crop is threshed andseparated as it is conveyed between a longitudinally arranged rotor andthe inner surface of an associated chamber comprising threshing andseparating concaves, and a rotor cage or cover. The cut crop materialspirals and is conveyed along a helical path along the inner surface ofthe chamber until substantially only larger residue remains. When theresidue reaches the end of the threshing drum, it is expelled out of therear of the combine. Meanwhile, the grain, chaff, and other small debrisfall through the concaves and grates onto a cleaning device or shoe. Forease of reference, this smaller particulate crop material that containsthe grain and chaff is referred to as threshed crop. The grain stillneeds to be further separated from the chaff by way of a winnowingprocess.

Clean grain is separated out of the threshed crop by way of a flatoscillating cleaning system that can include a chaffer and sieves.Generally, the cleaning system operates by mechanical and pneumaticmethods; blowing air through the threshed crop to winnow the chaff andthen sieving the grain to separate the grain from other particulates.Clean grain that is separated from residue via the sieves is typicallytransported to a grain tank in the combine for temporary storage. Thegrain tank is typically located atop the combine and loaded via aconveyer that carries clean grain collected in the cleaning system tothe grain tank.

In normal operation, the waste product is generally expelled out theback of the combine. The waste product such as straw is either evenlyspread via a set of spreader disks or windrowed for picking up viaanother machine such as a baler. Typically, the combine will windrow thechaff, which is generally in a first stream, discharged by a threshingrotor via a discharge beater or integral chopper and is positioned abovea cleaning system. The smaller particles that pass through threshingconcave grates includes the grain and the chaff, which is dischargedonto the cleaning system for winnowing. The chaff is blown rearward by acleaning fan in a second stream, which is generally below the straw path(the first stream).

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical spreader arrangement. The spreader disks102 and 104 are attached and secured to a frame 106. The frame typicallyincludes two or more cross-members 108 for providing support for thedisks 102 and 104 when spinning. A motor 110, including a series ofbelts, gears or other drive systems is provided for the operation of thedisks 102 and 104. A more detailed explanation of a spreader assembly isprovided in U.S. Pat. No. 7,487,024, the content of which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

Generally, the chaff material flows in the direction of arrow A over thespreader disks 102 and 104, which catch a portion of the chaff and throwa portion of the chaff about the rear of the combine. When the combineis configured for windrowing, a windrow hood or other similarlyapparatus diverts the flow of straw over the disks 102 and 104 and frame106 to an opening in the back of the combine. However, as combine outputhas increased, this arrangement has resulted in straw and chaff back-updue to the inability of the straw to clear any frame structures andbelts associated with the drive system. As such, when windrowing a largequantity of straw, a build-up can occur in the spreader disk assemblycompartment, in effect building a straw bale in the compartment.

Another way to achieve windorwing requires pivoting the spreader out ofthe straw flow path, such as rearward and upward to allow the entireresidue to discharge directly behind the combine and not be spread.Alternatively, the spreader disks could be removed from the drive shaftto windrow the entire crop residue (such as the spreader assembly asshown in FIG. 1). However, both of these configurations have thelimitation that the combine cannot windrow the straw and spread thechaff simultaneously. In some instances, it may be preferable to havebaled straw that is free from chaff and the chaff is discharged backonto the field by the spreader assembly to be reincorporated into thesoil.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention provide a combine having a windrowdoor positioned above the spreader disks and configured to pivot upwardand rearward to divert the first stream of straw rearward and over thespreader disks, thereby bypassing the spreader disks so that the firststream is deposited in a continuous mound behind the combine.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, a spreader assemblyfor a combine harvester includes a pair of disks configured to berotated such that chaff material dropped onto the disks is spread aboutthe combine harvester, wherein each disk is operably connected to itsown motor and a spreader frame assembly. The spreader frame assemblyincludes a first side support pivotably connected to a frame of thecombine harvester, a second side support pivotably connected to theframe of the combine harvester, and at least one disk support configuredto support at least one of the pair of disks. The spreader frameassembly further defines an opening configured such that when thecombine harvester is windrowing material, no portion of the spreaderframe assembly interferes with the flow of windrowing material.

According to one aspect of the first embodiment, the pair of disksincludes a left disk operably connected to a first motor and a rightdisk operably connected to a second motor.

According to another aspect of the first embodiment, the at least onesupport of the spreader frame assembly includes a left support armconfigured to support the left disk and the first motor and a rightsupport arm configured to support the right disk and the second motor.

According to another aspect of the first embodiment, the left disk isconfigured to move about the left support arm independently of the rightdisk, and the right disk is configured to move about the right supportarm independently of the left disk.

According to another aspect of the first embodiment, the left disk andthe right disk are configured to rotate about the spreader frameassembly to provide access to a cleaning system of the combine harvesteror to internal working component of the combine harvester.

According to another aspect of the first embodiment, the left disk andthe right disk are configured to pivot about an axial axis to fluff thematerial during windrowing.

According to another aspect of the first embodiment, the spreader frameassembly is configured to pivot with respect to the frame of the combineharvester such that the spreader frame assembly rotates into a storageposition.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, a combine harvesterincludes a threshing component configured to separate usable cropmaterial from non-usable material, a collection component connected tothe threshing component and configured to collect the usable cropmaterial, and a spreader assembly for spreading the non-usable material.The spreader assembly includes a pair of disks configured to be rotatedsuch that chaff material dropped onto the disks is spread about thecombine harvester, wherein each disk is operably connected to its ownmotor, and a spreader frame assembly. The spreader frame assemblyincludes a first side support pivotably connected to a frame of thecombine harvester, a second side support pivotably connected to theframe of the combine harvester, and at least one disk support configuredto support at least one of the pair of disks. The spreader frameassembly further defines an opening configured such that when thecombine harvester is windrowing the non-usable material, no portion ofthe spreader frame assembly interferes with the flow of windrowingnon-usable material.

According to another aspect of the second embodiment, the pair of disksincludes a left disk operably connected to a first motor and a rightdisk operably connected to a second motor.

According to another aspect of the second embodiment, the at least onesupport of the spreader frame assembly includes a left support armconfigured to support the left disk and the first motor and a rightsupport arm configured to support the right disk and the second motor.

According to another aspect of the second embodiment, the left disk isconfigured to move about the left support arm independently of the rightdisk, and the right disk is configured to move about the right supportarm independently of the left disk.

According to another aspect of the second embodiment, the left disk andthe right disk are configured to rotate about the spreader frameassembly to provide access to a cleaning system of the combine harvesteror to internal working component of the combine harvester.

According to another aspect of the second embodiment, the left disk andthe right disk are configured to pivot about an axial axis to fluff thematerial during windrowing.

According to another aspect of the second embodiment, the spreader frameassembly is configured to pivot with respect to the frame of the combineharvester such that the spreader frame assembly rotates into a storageposition.

According to a third embodiment of the invention, a spreader assemblyfor a combine harvester includes a left disk operably connected to afirst motor, a right disk operably connected to a second motor, and aspreader frame assembly. The spreader frame assembly includes a firstside support connected to a frame of the combine harvester, a secondside support connected to the frame of the combine harvester, a leftsupport arm configured to support the left disk and the first motor, anda right support arm configured to support the left disk and the secondmotor. The spreader frame assembly further defines an opening configuredsuch that when the combine harvester is windrowing material, no portionof the spreader frame assembly interferes with the flow of windrowingmaterial.

According to another aspect of the third embodiment, the left disk isconfigured to move about the left support arm independently of the rightdisk, and the right disk is configured to move about the right supportarm independently of the left disk.

According to another aspect of the third embodiment, the left disk andthe right disk are configured to rotate about the spreader frameassembly to provide access to a cleaning system of the combine harvesteror to internal working component of the combine harvester.

According to another aspect of the third embodiment, the left disk andthe right disk are configured to pivot about an axial axis to fluff thematerial during windrowing.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be madeapparent from the following detailed description of illustrativeembodiments that proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other aspects of the present invention are bestunderstood from the following detailed description when read inconnection with the accompanying drawings. For the purpose ofillustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodimentsthat are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that theinvention is not limited to the specific instrumentalities disclosed.Included in the drawings are the following Figures:

FIG. 1 is a view of an existing spreader assembly for use with a combineharvester;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary combine harvester for usewith the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary spreader disk assembly according to anembodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate various spreader disk arrangements for inclusionin a spreader assembly such as that shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary agricultural combine 200, which may also bereferred as a combine or harvester throughout this specification. Asshown in FIG. 2, the combine 200 can include a longitudinally axiallyarranged threshing and separation system 212, and a concave 220 withinthe threshing and separation system 212. The threshing mechanism mayalso be of any well-known construction and operation. In someembodiments, the concave 220 may also be used with combines havingtransversely aligned threshing and separation system in a combine.

As shown, threshing and separation system 212 is axially arranged, inthat it includes a cylindrical threshing rotor 214 conventionallysupported and rotatable in a predetermined direction about a rotationalaxis therethrough for conveying a flow of crop material in a helicalflow path through a threshing chamber 216 extending circumferentiallyaround the rotor 214. As shown, concaves 220 may extendcircumferentially around the rotor 214 and the flow of crop may pass inthe space between the spinning rotor and the concaves. As the cropmaterial flows through the threshing and separation system 212, the cropmaterial including, for example, grain, straw, legumes, and the like,will be loosened and separated from crop residue or MOG (material otherthan grain) such as, for example, husks, cobs, pods, and the like, andthe separated materials may be carried away from the threshing andseparation system 212 in a well-known conventional manner. Crop residuecan be redistributed to the field via a spreader assembly 222, locatedat the back of the harvester.

The remaining threshed crop, which includes the grain to be collected,is then cleaned via a cleaning system (not shown). The cleaning systemcan include conventional winnowing mechanisms including a fan that blowsair across a series of reciprocating sieves. Through the winnowingaction of the air and the reciprocating sieves, clean grain may becollected and sorted from the remaining chaff. The clean grain may beconveyed to the grain tank 250 via a cross auger that conveys grainlaterally from the bottom of the cleaning system to a vertical conveyor(or elevator) that conveys grain up a load tube to be spilled into graintank 250. At the bottom of grain tank 250, a one or more cross augersmove grain laterally from the bottom of the grain tank 250 to verticaltube 262 of unload tube 260 representing a turret style system ofoffloading. Vertical tube 262 may include an auger for propelling grainup and to another auger within the unload tube 260. Unload tube 260 maybe rotated such that it may extend its full length laterally forunloading grain from the grain tank 250 to a support vehicle, such as atruck that is driving along the side of the combine 200. Unload tube 260may also be oriented to the rear for storage, as shown. In a swivelstyle offloading system (not shown), the vertical tube 262 and unloadtube 260 is replaced by an unloading auger that is attached to the oneor more cross augers conveying grain from the cleaning system and maypivot from side to side from the combine 200, conveying grain from thecombine 200.

As discussed above, typically a first stream of straw is windrowed whilea second stream of chaff is separately moved through the combine.However, it may be desirable to provide a combine configured toaccommodate additional combinations. For example, it may be desirablefor a combine to windrow the first stream while spreading the secondstream, or to combine the two streams into either a single windrow or tospread both streams simultaneously.

In an exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure teaches a combinehaving a windrow door positioned above the spreader disks and configuredto pivot upward and rearward to divert the first stream of strawrearward and over the spreader disks, thereby bypassing the spreaderdisks so that the first stream is deposited in a continuous mound behindthe combine. The second stream of chaff will be spread via the spreaderdisks and, thus, there will be no interruption to the harvestingprocess. In the exemplary embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and4A-4C, the spreader assembly does not include frame cross-members thatwould interrupt the flow of the first stream of straw as it transitionsfrom either the upper or lower position to the opposite position,thereby providing a seamless transition from spreading to windrowing,and from windrowing to spreading. In other examples, removing the framecross-members permits the spreader disk orientation to be changed (e.g.,about a fore/aft axis for fluffing the windrow), or rotating the disksrearward and sideward about a vertical axis for providing axis toadditional spreader assembly or combine components.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary spreader assembly 300 that reduces theproblems addressed above in reference to traditional spreaderassemblies, particularly straw and chaff becoming caught oncross-members of a spreader assembly frame and causing a bale to form ator near the spreader assembly, or to cause a blockage to the flow ofmaterial through the spreader assembly. The spreader assembly 300includes two spreader disks 302 and 304. Each spreader disk 302 and 304includes a plurality of radial ridges or paddles 306 spaced andconfigured to catch a portion of the chaff when the spreader disks arespinning. Spreader disk 302 is operably connected to motor 308 via adriveshaft and framing assembly 310. Similarly, spreader disk 304 isoperably connected to motor 312 via a driveshaft and framing assembly314. By providing two motors 308 and 310, each disk 302 and 304 can beoperated separately. Additionally, the belts/drive assembly required ina typical spreader arrangement to power both disks from a single motoris eliminated, thereby removing the cross-shaft as one potentialobstacle to straw and chaff when the combine is windrowing.

Each of disks 302 and 304 (and the associated motors and drive/frameassemblies) may be operably connected to a frame assembly 316. The frameassembly 316 may include a lower cross-member 318 as well asside-members 320 and 322. It should be noted that frame assembly 316 asshown in FIG. 3 is shown by way of example only. As shown in FIGS.4A-4C, certain spreader assembly configurations may eliminate allcross-members.

The design of frame assembly 316 provides a large, open space 324through which straw can pass when the combine is windrowing, therebyeliminating the prior art frame cross-members that interfered with theflow of the chaff. Additionally, the frame assembly 316 may be pivotallyattached to pivot arms 326 and 328 at fixed pivot points 330 and 332.This arrangement results in the frame assembly 316 to be rotated forstorage or non-use. A proximity sensor may be provided that detects whenthe frame assembly is rotated into the storage position and disables themotors 308 and 312, thus stopping their operation. For example, themotors 308 and 312 may be hydraulic motors. When rotated into storageposition, the proximity sensor may cut off hydraulic oil flow, therebydisabling the operation of the motors 308 and 312. Similarly, theproximity sensor may cut off electricity to the motors 308 and 312 ifthe motors are electric motors.

Similarly, each spreader disk arrangement may be rotationally mountedonto frame assembly 316 at pivot points 334 and 336 respectively. Thisprovides each spreader disk 302 and 304 with an independent movementrelative to the other disk. Additionally, the axis of rotation about thepivot points 334 and 336 may be in the same direction of travel as thecombine, thus permitting a sideways rotation of the disks 302 and 304.This arrangement allows the disks 302 and 304 to be at an angle suchthat the center location of the disks is lower than the outer perimeterof the disks, such that the crop material deflected onto the disks maybe permitted to fall between the disks onto the ground, while some ofthe crop momentum is slowed by the rotating disks. This may allow thewindrow material to be “fluffed” in the process, which incorporates airinto the windrow for faster drying time. Positioning the disks 302 and304 in the sideways position may be accommodated by a rigid member(e.g., a strap) with positioning holes and a latching pin to secure thedisk in a desired position, or through the use of a hydraulic orelectric actuator.

The position and arrangement of the various components of spreaderassembly 300 provides a versatile system that overcomes many of thedrawbacks of prior art approaches. As outlined above, the spreaderassembly 300 eliminates the cross-members interfering with the flow ofstraw when windrowing. Additionally, the position of the spreader disks302 and 304 when rotated into storage position provides an operator ofthe combine with access to the cleaning system at each side of thespreader assembly 300.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate additional exemplary embodiments for a spreaderassembly. As shown in FIG. 4A, a first spreader assembly 400 includestwo disks 402 and 404 independently supported with no framecross-members. Rather, each of disks 402 and 404 is supported at eachside by one of support arms 406 or 408. This permits each disk 402 and404 to be rotated into a storage or non-use position independently ofthe other disk. An additional advantage of this embodiment is nocross-members to collect crop residue that may lead to blockage of thecombine.

Similarly, FIG. 4B illustrates multiple isometric views of a spreaderassembly 410 including a disk 412 independently mounted and supported onsupport arm 416. This arrangement permits rotation of the disk 412 in afirst direction (e.g., rearwards) as well as about a fore/aft axis topermit sideways rotation. As before, this embodiment has nocross-members to collect crop residue that may lead to blockage of thecombine.

FIG. 4C illustrates a left side of a spreader assembly 420 including adisk 422 mounted on a support arm 426. This arrangement provides thedisk 422 may rotate about a vertical axis (in a similar direction to thesupport arm 426), thereby allowing the disk to rotate and pivot to therear and side of the combine to provide access to the cleaning system.The right side of this arrangement is similar to the left side but in amirrored configuration. As before, this embodiment has no cross-membersto collect crop residue that may lead to blockage of the combine.

It should be noted the embodiments illustrates in FIGS. 4A-4C are shownby way of example only to illustrate the freedom of movement of thespreader disks resulting from the elimination of the framecross-members. In addition to removing obstacles to windrowing material,the elimination of the frame cross-members provides for additionaldegrees of movement for the spreader disks, thereby providing newalternatives for moving the disks to storage or cleaning positions forimproved access to the internal working components of the combine, aswell as new alternatives for operating the disks in different positions(as discussed above with fluffing the windrow).

It should also be noted that the arrangements discussed herein are shownby way of example only, and are intended to increase the ease with whicha combine customer or operator can switch from spreading to windrowingwhile maintaining high efficiency without sacrificing any potentialperformance of the combine.

Although the invention has been described with reference to exemplaryembodiments, it is not limited thereto. For example, two pairs ofopposing compression rollers can be employed to ensure completelycrushed crop materials. Those skilled in the art will appreciate thatnumerous changes and modifications may be made to the preferredembodiments of the invention and that such changes and modifications maybe made without departing from the true spirit of the invention. It istherefore intended that the appended claims cover be construed to allsuch equivalent variations as fall within the true spirit and scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A spreader assembly for a combine harvestercomprising: a pair of disks that are rotatable to spread chaff materialdropped thereon, each disk associated with a respective motor; each diskrotationally mounted onto a spreader frame assembly such that a disk ismoveable independent of another disc; the spreader frame including: afirst side support pivotably connected to a frame of the combineharvester; a second side support pivotably connected to the frame of thecombine harvester, wherein the spreader frame assembly defines anopening configured such that when the combine harvester is windrowingmaterial, no portion of the spreader frame assembly interferes with aflow of windrowing material.
 2. The spreader assembly of claim 1, thepair of disks including a left disk being associated with a first motorand a right disk associated with a second motor, wherein the left diskis supported by a left support arm of the spreader frame assembly; andthe right disk is supported by a right support arm of the spreader frameassembly.
 3. The spreader assembly of claim 2, wherein the left disk ismoveable about the left support arm independently of the right disk, andthe right disk is moveable about the right support arm independently ofthe left disk.
 4. The spreader assembly of claim 2, wherein the leftdisk and the right disk are rotatable about the spreader frame assemblyto facilitate access to various components of the combine harvester. 5.The spreader assembly of claim 2, wherein the left disk and the rightdisk are pivotable about an axial axis, to fluff material duringwindrowing.
 6. The spread assembly of claim 2, wherein the spreaderframe assembly is pivotable with respect to a frame of the combineharvester, to position the spreader frame assembly into a storageposition.
 7. A combine harvester comprising: a threshing componentconfigured to separate usable crop material from non-usable material; acollection component connected to the threshing component and configuredto collect the usable crop material; a spreader assembly including; apair of disks that are rotatable to spread chaff material droppedthereon, each disk associated with a respective motor; each diskrotationally mounted onto a spreader frame assembly such that a disk ismoveable independent of another disc; a disk support that supports thedisk; and the spreader frame including: a first side support pivotablyconnected to a frame of the combine harvester; a second side supportpivotably connected to the frame of the combine harvester, wherein thespreader frame assembly defines an opening configured such that when thecombine harvester is windrowing material, no portion of the spreaderframe assembly interferes with a flow of windrowing material.
 8. Thecombine harvester of claim 7, the pair of disks including a left diskbeing associated with a first motor and a right disk associated with asecond motor, wherein the left disk is supported by a left support armof the spreader frame assembly; and the right disk is supported by aright support arm of the spreader frame assembly.
 9. The combineharvester of claim 7, wherein the left disk is moveable about the leftsupport arm independently of the right disk, and the right disk ismoveable about the right support arm independently of the left disk. 10.The combine harvester of claim 7, wherein the left disk and the rightdisk are rotatable about the spreader frame assembly to facilitateaccess to various components of the combine harvester.
 11. The combineharvester of claim 7, wherein the left disk and the right disk arepivotable about an axial axis.
 12. The combine harvester of claim 7,wherein the spreader frame assembly is pivotable with respect to a frameof the combine harvester, to position the spreader frame assembly into astorage position.